Absolut Branded Entertainment: Spike Jonze and Jay-Z

Spike Jonze & Absolut’s free web film features robot love, long wait times but no Absolut

Absolut vodka and agency TBWA/Chiat/Day tapped director Spike Jonze to create a branded short — minus the branding — to premiere at Sundance. The film, “I’m Here,” follows an android who falls in love; the brand associations are attached through other marketing efforts around the film. “This is an emotional expression of the brand,” Absolut’s Anna Malmhake says. “None of us could see what a shot of the vodka would have added.” Anna’s right … but isn’t that the point of “branded” entertainment? The trick is to make sure that there is some link … and its not just an unrelated effort.

The Jay-Z Empire State Explored in Full Absolut Vodka Film
TBWA\New York (OMC) enlisted the directing services of noted music photographer Danny Clinch, who delves into the rapper/mogul’s Empire State of mind and gives us a glimpse at his preparation for a September 11 benefit concert, which took place at Madison Square Garden last year and helped kick off the Absolut Concert Series. Nice to see my old friend Colby in the credits!